Pirelli has confirmed its in-season testing schedule for the coming year as teams give up one day of their own track time in order to work with the Italian tire supplier.

Following the testgate scandal that unfurled last May – where Mercedes was adjudged to have wrongly completed 1000km of testing despite there being a ban on it – it was written into the new regulations that teams could work with Pirelli on an official basis during the year.

Further to that, scheduled in-season testing has returned, with events planned following the races in Bahrain, Spain, Great Britain and Abu Dhabi. Therefore, each team will use one day from each test to work with Pirelli on its tire compounds.

Pirelli’s testing programme is as follows:

BahrainApril 8 – Caterham
April 9 – Mercedes and Williams

SpainMay 13 – Sauber and Toro Rosso
May 14 – McLaren and Force India

Great Britain
July 8 – Ferrari and Lotus
July 9 – Red Bull and Marussia

With an official testing calendar in place, there should be no repeat of the scandal that emerged at Monaco last year when Mercedes’ actions were revealed. Further to that – and more importantly – Pirelli will be able to get as much information as possible about the 2014 tire compounds, meaning that problems such as the multiple tire blow-outs at the British Grand Prix last June should be avoided this time around.